Hey ladies, I'm usually just a reader of the threads but created an account so I could get advice from you mommas!
I have a 5 year old whom I had vaginally & a 2 year old that was born via emergency c section! I am due Oct 30th & really trying for a vbac! My midwife is not comfortable with me goin over EDD & suggested primrose oil, I will be using it for the 1st time tonight at bedtime!
I am rly hoping this stuff works some magic. & was wondering if any of y'all have used it & if so what was your experience! Cant wait to hear back! Any other natural induction suggestions you have, feel free to share!

I used Evening Primrose religiously (3 capsules/day orally plus one inserted next to cervix at night) and it REALLY helped soften my cervix. My midwife said it "felt like butter." As a first timer, I considered that a compliment! Also, raspberry leaf! Take the capsule forms.

I used it with my past two pregnancies. I took it orally and inserted it at bedtime. I'm not sure how much it really does, but by 37-38 weeks I'm willing to try anything safe that might help me go into labor. It is one of those things that it can't hurt to try and might really help so I find it worthwhile to do.

I started taking it vaginally (1 capsule at bedtime) around 36 ish weeks and also drank raspberry leaf tea a few times a day. My midwife said it definitely helped things for me! I had some issues with a long labor and stalling that she is SURE would have been worse without the EPO prep! I second the nipple stim! I will be doing that this go around myself!

Red Raspberry Leaf has many benefits but it has no effects on the cervix. I highly recommend herbal infusions to capsules for a few reasons. Herbal infusion is like a strong medicinal tea you steep for several hours; 4hrs leaves and 8hrs for roots. It is hydrating to the body. How the body absorbs and reacts to herbs varies depending in how they are ingested.

Herbal infusions work best over a long periods of time for the most optimal benefit, ideally consumed 5x or more a week. RRL is an amazing herb to consume during menstruation, all throughout pregnancy, nursing and into menopause. To only take capsules the last few weeks of your pregnancy will provide very little benefit, it might cause you some wicked BH cntx.

For pregnancy RRL should be consumed 1 cup per day per trimester.

The herbal tonics indicated for pregnancy need to be used regularly; a tonic is to the cells much as exercise is to the muscles: not much use when done erratically. Of course even occasional use oftonics during pregnancy will be of benefit, since they do contain nourishing factors. Better benefit will come from using them 5 times a week or more.

RED RASPBERRY LEAVES (Rubus spp.) Brewed as a tea or as an infusion, raspberry is the best known, most widely used, and safest of all uterine and pregnancy tonic herbs. It contains fragrine, an alkaloid which gives tone to the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself.

Most of the benefits ascribed to regular use of Raspberry tea through pregnancy can be traced to the strengthening power of fragrine or to the nourishing power of the vitamins and minerals found in this plant. Of special note are the rich concentration of vitamin C, the presence of vitamin E and the easily assimilated calcium and iron. Raspberry leaves also contain vitamins A and B complex and many minerals, including phosphorous and potassium.

The benefits of drinking a raspberry leaf brew before and throughout pregnancy include:

*Increasing fertility in both men and women. Raspberry leaf is an excellent fertility herb when combined with Red Clover.
*Preventing miscarriage and hemorrhage. Raspberry leaf tones the uterus and helps prevent miscarriage and post-partum hemorrhage from a relaxed or atonic uterus.
*Easing of morning sickness. Many attest to raspberry leaf's gentle relief of nausea and stomach distress throughout pregnancy.
*Reducing pain during labour and after birth. By toning the muscles used during labour and delivery, Raspberry leaf eliminates many of the reasons for a painful delivery and prolonged recovery. It does not, however, counter the pain of pelvic dilation.
*Providing a safe and speedy parturition. Raspberry leaf works to encourage the uterus to let go and function without tension. It does not strengthen contractions, but does allow the contractinguterus to work more effectively and so may make the birth easier and faster.
*Assisting in the production of plentiful breast milk. The high mineral content of Raspberry leaf assist in milk production, but its astringency may counter that for some women.*Easily assimilated content of calcium and magnesium, to relieve leg cramps.
*Also high in iron, the leaves and berries help prevent anemia.

Also RRL can be purchased by the pound loose; it is more fresh and less expensive than buying prepackaged individual bags of RRL. Check out Mountain Rose HErbs or San Francisco Herbs.

Why is your MW not comfortable with you going past your EDD? Its perfectly safe to gestate past your EDD.

Also a soft ripened cervix has no effect on encouraging labor to begin. You could be 70% and 0cm and high.

Red Raspberry Leaf has many benefits but it has no effects on the cervix. I highly recommend herbal infusions to capsules for a few reasons. Herbal infusion is like a strong medicinal tea you steep for several hours; 4hrs leaves and 8hrs for roots. It is hydrating to the body. How the body absorbs and reacts to herbs varies depending in how they are ingested.

Herbal infusions work best over a long periods of time for the most optimal benefit, ideally consumed 5x or more a week. RRL is an amazing herb to consume during menstruation, all throughout pregnancy, nursing and into menopause. To only take capsules the last few weeks of your pregnancy will provide very little benefit, it might cause you some wicked BH cntx.

For pregnancy RRL should be consumed 1 cup per day per trimester.

The herbal tonics indicated for pregnancy need to be used regularly; a tonic is to the cells much as exercise is to the muscles: not much use when done erratically. Of course even occasional use oftonics during pregnancy will be of benefit, since they do contain nourishing factors. Better benefit will come from using them 5 times a week or more.

RED RASPBERRY LEAVES (Rubus spp.) Brewed as a tea or as an infusion, raspberry is the best known, most widely used, and safest of all uterine and pregnancy tonic herbs. It contains fragrine, an alkaloid which gives tone to the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself.

Most of the benefits ascribed to regular use of Raspberry tea through pregnancy can be traced to the strengthening power of fragrine or to the nourishing power of the vitamins and minerals found in this plant. Of special note are the rich concentration of vitamin C, the presence of vitamin E and the easily assimilated calcium and iron. Raspberry leaves also contain vitamins A and B complex and many minerals, including phosphorous and potassium.

The benefits of drinking a raspberry leaf brew before and throughout pregnancy include:

*Increasing fertility in both men and women. Raspberry leaf is an excellent fertility herb when combined with Red Clover.
*Preventing miscarriage and hemorrhage. Raspberry leaf tones the uterus and helps prevent miscarriage and post-partum hemorrhage from a relaxed or atonic uterus.
*Easing of morning sickness. Many attest to raspberry leaf's gentle relief of nausea and stomach distress throughout pregnancy.
*Reducing pain during labour and after birth. By toning the muscles used during labour and delivery, Raspberry leaf eliminates many of the reasons for a painful delivery and prolonged recovery. It does not, however, counter the pain of pelvic dilation.
*Providing a safe and speedy parturition. Raspberry leaf works to encourage the uterus to let go and function without tension. It does not strengthen contractions, but does allow the contractinguterus to work more effectively and so may make the birth easier and faster.
*Assisting in the production of plentiful breast milk. The high mineral content of Raspberry leaf assist in milk production, but its astringency may counter that for some women.*Easily assimilated content of calcium and magnesium, to relieve leg cramps.
*Also high in iron, the leaves and berries help prevent anemia.

Also RRL can be purchased by the pound loose; it is more fresh and less expensive than buying prepackaged individual bags of RRL. Check out Mountain Rose HErbs or San Francisco Herbs.

Why is your MW not comfortable with you going past your EDD? Its perfectly safe to gestate past your EDD.

Also a soft ripened cervix has no effect on encouraging labor to begin. You could be 70% and 0cm and high.